Rory McIlroy is to take a couple of weeks to reflect on another poor Masters.
Lee Westwood does not need to; he knows what cost him another chance to win a major. Runner-up by three shots to Phil Mickelson two years ago, Westwood this year came two strokes behind Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen.
It was a sixth top-three finish for the 38-year-old in his last 10 majors, but the US Open in San Francisco in June will be his 57th attempt to win one. Nobody hit more greens in regulation over the four days at Augusta, but Westwood said: "You have got to putt well to win the Masters, and I haven't."
After three-putting from 10 feet for double bogey at the end of his second round, and missing from little more than a foot on the ninth green the next day, England's world No.3 added: "I came out and missed a two-footer on the third, and that is not the kind of thing that will give you confidence for the rest of the round. I didn't really make that many putts. The longest was 10 feet on 18. It's not good enough."
Westwood is not as gloomy as Sergio Garcia, who spoke of not having the game to win after finishing joint 12th. "I'll keep plugging [away]," said the Englishman.
McIlroy stays second in the rankings behind Luke Donald after finishing 40th, alongside Tiger Woods. For Woods, it was the worst performance of his career as a professional at Augusta; for McIlroy, it was easily his worst result since last August. The 22-year-old will be the defending champion at the Olympic Club in nine weeks' time.
Finishing 77-76 was not as traumatic as his closing 80 when leading by four last year, but expectations are now much higher for the Northern Irishman. "It was disappointing; just one of those things," he said, "but I'll come back next year and try my best again. I'll take a couple of weeks off, reflect and think about what I didn't do so well, then just try and get back at it and prepare for the US Open."
His next scheduled start is the Wells Fargo Championship from May 3-6 at Quail Hollow, scene of his first PGA Tour victory two years ago.
Donald, who shared 32nd place, moves on to Hilton Head for the RBC Heritage, where he last year lost a play-off to Brandt Snedeker. Padraig Harrington will be there, too, taking encouragement from his tie for eighth, which has lifted him from 96th to 80th in the world rankings.
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